MOSCOW. Feb 28 (Interfax-AVN) - Tests of the new generation Electro-L geostationary hydro-meteorological satellite launched on January 20 are on schedule, and the satellite will be put to service by the middle of 2011, Lavochkin Research and Production Center General Director Viktor Khartov told Interfax-AVN.
"We are on schedule and will be prepared to pass the satellite under control of the Central Research Institute of Machine Building [TsNIIMash] by the middle of the year," he said. So far, the plant is controlling the satellite's tests.
The satellite has reached its designated position in orbit, and tests of auxiliary systems have been ongoing for a month. The tests will end soon, Khartov said.
"We have turned on the payload and checked the first radio-technical set, which will be transmitting weather data to the Earth," he said.
Antennas to transmit data from the MSU-GS scanner have also been tested, Khartov said.
"All these tests have been successful," he added.
"It will take a month to test the scanner," he said.